Free state-by-state guide · Reviewed July 2026
Food Handler Card Requirements by State
There is no national food handler card. Whether you need one — and which course counts — is decided by your state, and sometimes by your county. Pick your state below for the exact rules, checked against health department pages and state law.
Statewide Law, County Rules, or No Card at All
Every state page on this site starts by telling you which of these three models applies where you work. Here is what each one means in plain English:
State law requires food handler training for food employees everywhere in the state, on a set deadline after hire — usually 14 to 60 days. The states differ on which courses count: some accept any ANSI/ANAB-accredited course, others only their own program or an official approved list.
No statewide mandate — each county decides whether food workers need a card. Arizona works this way: metro counties typically require a card, and where you work determines both the rule and the deadline.
Ohio issues no individual food handler card at all. The training rules attach to the person in charge and managers instead — line employees are trained by their employer, not by a card program.
Even in statewide-law states, a handful of counties run their own card programs — California's San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties are the classic examples. Each state page calls out every exception we verified.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.
Select Your State
We publish a state only after checking its rules against primary sources — health department pages and state law, with access dates cited. 10 states are live so far, and more are in progress.
Arizona
County-by-countyDeadline: Varies by county — 30 days in Maricopa
View Arizona requirementsCalifornia
Required statewideDeadline: 30 days of hire
View California requirementsFlorida
Required statewideDeadline: 60 days after employment
View Florida requirementsIllinois
Required statewideDeadline: 30 days of hire
View Illinois requirementsNew Mexico
Required statewideDeadline: 30 days of employment
View New Mexico requirementsOhio
No card requiredOregon
Required statewideDeadline: 30 days of starting work
View Oregon requirementsTexas
Required statewideDeadline: 30 days of employment
View Texas requirementsUtah
Required statewideDeadline: Certificate in 14 days, permit in 30
View Utah requirementsWashington
Required statewideDeadline: 14 days (employer trains meanwhile)
View Washington requirementsMore states on the way
Don't see your state? We only publish pages we have verified against primary sources. New states are added as the research clears review.
How Food Handler Card Rules Vary by State
Food handler requirements come from state health codes and, in some places, county ordinances — which is why the answer changes at the state line. Of the 10 states published here so far, 8 require accepted training statewide, 1 (Arizona) leaves it to counties, and 1 (Ohio) requires no individual card at all.
The trap to avoid is buying the wrong course. Some states accept any ANSI/ANAB-accredited food handler course, but others only recognize their own program or a short official list — and a generic online card will not count there. Your state page names the accepted training and links the official approved-course list, so check it before you pay anyone.
Deadlines, fees, and validity periods vary just as much — and some states simply do not publish every detail. Each state page here lists only facts we verified against official pages and state law, links every source with its access date, and tells you plainly when something is not published so you know to confirm it with your local health department.
Know Your State's Rules? Get Ready for the Test.
Every accepted course ends with a test on the same core topics — hygiene, cross-contamination, temperatures, cleaning and sanitizing. Our free practice test shows you exactly where you stand, with an explanation for every answer.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.